Tips to stay disciplined with diet.

FYG

Good evening,

I have been trying to cut out **** from my diet for ages (chocolate, crisps, jellies, biscuits, fizzy drinks, ice-cream, etc.) but I normally last around a day and a half. My record is four days -- the first time I attempted it.

Does anyone have any tips on how to give up eating **** and stay disciplined? Have any of you managed to come from eating way too much **** to not eating any at all?

Perhaps this belongs in the Nutrition and Diet forum actually. Mods feel free to move it as you see fit.

The Davestator

Plan a cheat meal / day. This way you have something to look forward to. Eat clean mon to fri. Go mad sat nite and tidy again on sun. It'll stop you falling off the wagon so quickly. Start with a few cheat days and reduce it down by 1 each week

FYG

The Davestator wrote: »

Plan a cheat meal / day. This way you have something to look forward to. Eat clean mon to fri. Go mad sat nite and tidy again on sun. It'll stop you falling off the wagon so quickly. Start with a few cheat days and reduce it down by 1 each week

But will going "mad" on a Saturday night not ruin all the hard work done during the week and wipe out any calorie deficit?

Doug Cartel

FYG wrote: »

But will going "mad" on a Saturday night not ruin all the hard work done during the week and wipe out any calorie deficit?

Don't go completely mad, just a little.

FarmerH

Dont fret over it, because the more you think about it the worse it will get. Once you're down to having one cheat meal a week you'll be amazed how quick it comes around.

You're probably suffering from a sugar addiction, like a lot of people, and dont realise it (also like a lot of people). I find the longer I can go without the junk, they less I'll crave it.

Two tips. Dont have any junk food in the house so you cant just grab it when you think you "need" something. Secondly, I find distraction the best help. Stay out and about, walk, exercise, join a course/club etc. Nothing worse than sitting at home thinking you're hungry

FYG

Okay, thanks for the tips lads. I'll probably allow myself one cheat meal a week - probably on a Saturday night I will have a can of Coke, a bag of walkers, and a bar.

Starting tomorrow.

Red Cortina

I've found it hugely helpful to educate myself on how bad some foods actually are. I find that foods such as chips do not appeal to me at all now.

Also they say in Weight Watchers that if you are after eating and are still hungry then to go and brush you teeth.

CrazySka

Try and keep it sustainable also, dont go from eating junk to eating 3 tiny meals, eating good food does not mean starving yourself!
Eat well, lots of chicken, green veg, snack on small amounts of nuts and one or two pieces of fruit a day.
Small treats are good if you can keep them in check and actually appreciate them when you have them rather than them causing you to just want more.
As FarmerH says try and join some structured exercise gropup like a running club, football team, hockey, bootcamp. something thta meets regluarly will keep your mind on a healthy lifestyle, try and think of the bigger picture, consider eating well as being fuel towards a stronger more active lifestyle and make your choices based on that.

You'll also find after a while of not eating bad food that the bad food doesnt taste as good, chicken balls seem greasy and Mc Donalds tastes like crap!

Best of luck, no bother to ya!

FYG

CrazySka wrote: »

Try and join some structured exercise gropup like a running club, football team, hockey, bootcamp. something thta meets regluarly will keep your mind on a healthy lifestyle, try and think of the bigger picture, consider eating well as being fuel towards a stronger more active lifestyle and make your choices based on that.

Actually, the time I my cravings are at their worst, is when I am on my way home from a football match or football training. All I can think about on the way home is having a can of coke. Always after training and matches...

Oh, and when we lose a match, I get depressed and binge.

CrazySka

I get that if I havent eaten well enough during the day before training too, I would try eating some high sugar fruit like a bannana half an hour before training, that might help.

The other thing that keeps me on the straight and narrow is to think of the one cheat meal a week, eg, "Its grand, ill get a chinese on sat so I'll have something good now"

You gotta think of winning the next match too!

Jimmy Bottlehead

FYG wrote: »

Good evening,

I have been trying to cut out **** from my diet for ages (chocolate, crisps, jellies, biscuits, fizzy drinks, ice-cream, etc.) but I normally last around a day and a half. My record is four days -- the first time I attempted it.

Does anyone have any tips on how to give up eating **** and stay disciplined? Have any of you managed to come from eating way too much **** to not eating any at all?

[SIZE="1"]Perhaps this belongs in the Nutrition and Diet forum actually. Mods feel free to move it as you see fit.[/SIZE]

http://www.dominicmunnelly.ie/2010/12/ultimate-enery-bars/

there's your answer - a healthy treat that tastes fab. just try one batch and see

gigawatt

if u crave coke after the matches could you try to drink diet coke instead? it might help

FYG

gigawatt wrote: »

if u crave coke after the matches could you try to drink diet coke instead? it might help

I suppose, but I'd rather cut fizzy drinks out completely because diet coke is filled with crap too!

Diet has begun! :cool:

Hanley

My top 3 tips...

1) Have a cheat meal planned after 5-7 days to look forward to, have a cheat day planned after 10-14 days
2) Just make it thru TODAY. If you can mke it to the next meal without snacking, try to go to the one after that, and then just get to the end of the day. And then do it tomorrow. But just take each meal, and each day, as a goal to be reached first
3) Prepare your food in advance (if possible) or know exactly what you're going to eat and when - regular feeding times will keep you fuller and less likely to snack

Theresalwaysone

Hanley has it spot on.

The mental aspect of calorie restriction is probably the hardest thing about it. I wouldnt be suprised if some studies showed a link between long term restriction and mild depression.

Meal to meal is the way I look at it. I still get horrible carb/sugar cravings at times, eating a night high fat high protein meal usually sorts it pronto. Also, try not to get bored. Boredom is a killer for snacking, instant sugar gratification.

xgtdec

Monday to Friday should be handy to keep clean so long as you have a daily routine, i find even a day off work can effect my eating habits!!

as for weekends, the thing to do is plan ahead, i can already tell you what im eating this weekend right up to going to bed Sunday, once you make a plan on Thursday for Fri/Sat/Sun its easy to stick to it!!

also have a long term cheat in store to keep you going and motivated, ill be hitting fat burn at the end of october for 3 months but in the middle(christmas day) i will consume an entire box of butlers chocolates..and not a little box either...the largest one i can find , i cant wait.....and this keep me going through out all the other days!!

Thesheriff4

FYG wrote: »

CrazySka wrote: »

Try and join some structured exercise gropup like a running club, football team, hockey, bootcamp. something thta meets regluarly will keep your mind on a healthy lifestyle, try and think of the bigger picture, consider eating well as being fuel towards a stronger more active lifestyle and make your choices based on that.

Actually, the time I my cravings are at their worst, is when I am on my way home from a football match or football training. All I can think about on the way home is having a can of coke. Always after training and matches...

Oh, and when we lose a match, I get depressed and binge.

I used to have the same problem with craving rubbish after a football match now I bring a protein shake with me and have that immediately after which I find stops the cravings and is a great help with recovery, I usually bring a shaker with milk and ice in it and the protein powder separate then mix them when I'm about to drink it, lovely!

King of Kings

what hanley said -
also dont buy junk food in advance i.e. dont have it in the cupbaord. so if you have craving you need to go move your ass to the shop to get it - which will hopefully be closed.